A grievance is defined as: Any alleged violation or any misapplication or misinterpretation of the collective bargaining agreement or any other written negotiated agreement between the parties or any violation, misapplication or misinterpretation of personnel rules and/or regulations that affect terms and conditions of employment. Additionally, the grievance must be something that the Agency can correct so that the employee may be made whole.
So, now we know what a grievance is, but what is the process?
Step One: The employee and/or the Union will bring the grievance to the attention of the lowest level supervisor (aka grievance official) that can resolve the issue. Usually, (but not always) this will be the sector supervisor. The grievance can be presented verbally or in writing. The supervisor will then have five working days (M-F, excluding holidays and weekends) to answer the grievance. The grievance official shall either grant the requested remedy, or deny the grievance. If the grievance is denied, the employee may advance the grievance to the next step. Also note that if the grievance official does not respond to the grievance, it may be treated as a denial and advanced to the next step.
Step Two: Within ten (10) working days, the employee and/or the Union files the grievance (in writing only), to Dr. Michael Williams. He then will have ten (10) working days to render a decision. Again, he will either grant the grievance or deny it. If denied, it may be advanced to Step Three.
Step Three: Within ten (10) working days, the employee and/or the Union files the grievance (in writing only) to the Fire Chief. The Fire Chief (or his designee) then has ten (10) working days to schedule a hearing on the matter. Following the hearing, the Fire Chief (or his designee) has ten (10) working days to render a decision. If the grievance is denied at this step, the Union will then decide whether or not to seek binding arbitration of the matter. The right to arbitration is reserved for the Union, and it is at the sole discretion of the Union as to whether or not a grievance will be pursued to that level.